Most popular items:Cathy Pompeo said the Pasta Pie, a spaghetti and meatball pie rolled edge crust with spaghetti noodles, homemade Italian meatballs, original spaghetti sauce topped with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese is one of their best-sellers. The pie sells for $15.45 for a medium 12” pie and goes up to $24.45 for a family size 18”.

Pompeo said the Italian Melt is also popular. The sandwich features salami, mortadella, pepperoni, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion and pesto mayo on an herb foccacia bread for $6.75.

Unique items: For a take-out place, Pompeo said it’s unusual for an eatery to feature items with homemade sauces like their Chicken Marsala, which sells for $9.75. Pompeo said everything at Take Outz is homemade including their crusts, sauces and soups, and everything is made fresh for each order.

Pompeo also said they are one of the earliest pizza places in town to open at 10 a.m. You can order any item them, but Pompeo recommends the Breakfast Pizza, which features hash browns, breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs, bacon and cheddar cheese on a rolled edge crust ranging from $14.70 for a medium 12” pizza up to $23 for an family size 18” pizza.

We ate:Based on Pompeo’s suggestions, we tried the Pasta Pie and the Chicken Marsala, she also had us try the Italian Melt and the Italian Beef, which sells for $5.95.

You can either pick up your food at Take Outz, which has table and chairs for you in case your food isn’t ready, or you can have your food delivered. Take Outz delivers to all of Loves Park and Machesney Park and has limited Rockford delivery. Delivery fees range from $2.50 to $5, depending on the distance.

I decided to pick up our food to take home. The chicken and sandwiches were packaged and sealed in a brown bag, and I knew we would be full soon after I felt the weight of the Pasta Pie in the box.

As soon as I got home and opened up the box, my almost 3-year-old excitedly exclaimed, “It’s pizza and spaghetti!”

Page 2 of 2 - The cheese on the pie helped hold the spaghetti together. Even though it was filling, my husband had a second piece and said he would order this again. Brayden loved it as well.

I had the Chicken Marsala which came with a side of spaghetti, mostaccioli, baked potatoes or fries. I had the mostaccioli.

The noodles for the mostaccioli were cooked just right and the sauce had a nice, not-too-overbearing flavor.

The Chicken Marsala came with two big pieces of chicken covered in mushrooms and a marsala sauce that reminded me of an olive oil flavor. After eating some of the pasta, I was full after one piece of chicken.

After the pasta pie, my husband tried the Italian melt, which featured fresh foccacia bread. He said he liked the salami and the taste of the pesto mayo.

We saved the Italian Beef for last, which is a massive-sized sandwich. For someone like me, this could easily make four meals. For my husband, probably two meals! It was covered in cheese, just how we like it and the sandwich reminded me of an Italian beef I used to get back in my hometown, just double the size!

“Ahh” factor: I was amazed at how extensive Take Outz’ menu is. They really offer something for everyone. In addition to delivery, they do catering, too.

“Hmm” moment: When I called to order, the woman who answered the phone couldn’t easily locate a food item I wanted, and I was put on hold.

Next time, I’ll:Try the Taco Fiesta pizza. I also think the Breakfast Pizza would be fun to serve in the morning for a kids slumber party.